Sutra 20

Devanagari script

सकेसरः स्निग्धो मृदुर्भाजिष्णुश्च निकषरागः श्रेष्ठः ॥ कZ_०२.१३.२० ॥

Transliteration

sakesaraḥ snigdho mṛdur bhājiṣṇuś ca nikaṣarāgaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ

Translation

The best touchstone colour/streak is one that is pollen-like (rich), glossy, soft, and lustrous.

Word by Word

• सकेसरः: having (good) stamens/pollen; i.e., rich in ‘kesara’ (a mark of quality)
• Type: Noun (Adjective)
• Root: केसर
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; बहुव्रीहिः—‘स-केसरः’ (केसरयुक्तः)

• स्निग्धः: unctuous, glossy, smooth
• Type: Noun (Adjective)
• Root: स्निग्ध
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; गुणवाचक-विशेषणम्

• मृदुः: soft, tender
• Type: Noun (Adjective)
• Root: मृदु
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; गुणवाचक-विशेषणम्

• भाजिष्णुः: shining, lustrous, radiant
• Type: Noun (Adjective)
• Root: भाज्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; ‘भाज्’ धातोः ‘इष्णु’ प्रत्ययान्तः (शील/प्रवृत्तिवाचकः)—दीप्तिमान्/शोभमानः

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• निकषरागः: having the proper touchstone-streak/colour (i.e., showing the right mark when tested on a touchstone)
• Type: Noun (Adjective)
• Root: निकष-राग
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; समासः—‘निकषे रागः’/‘निकषस्य रागः’ इति (निकष-परीक्षायां यः रङ्गः/रेखा)

• श्रेष्ठः: the best, superior
• Type: Noun (Adjective)
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; गुणवाचक-विशेषणम् (प्रशस्ततमः)

Entities Mentioned

• nikaṣarāga

More Details

FAQs

Why define sensory descriptors like glossy/soft/lustrous?

They translate metallurgical quality into field-usable criteria for inspectors, enabling standardized grading without advanced instruments.